Posts from — January 2009

It seems that "someone" is trying to prove that free range chickens are no better or possibly worse than caged chickens. (more…)

He can, but will he? “The world has changed; America must change with it,” says the new President. But will the new administration change its existing environmental  pledges, or stick to their promised policies?

The stated policy is as follows.

? Help create 5 million new jobs by investing $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy initiatives

? Increase the nation’s use of electricity from renewable sources to 10 percent of our total use by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025

? Institute a national cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. (more…)

Siwash – generator backup The Siwash Lake Ranch is truly off-grid.  Its  a luxury dude ranch outside Kamloops, B.C where Allyson Rogers, the ranch’s co-owner, walks guests through basics such as dealing with trash, recycling and composting. And with the guests onboard (the ranch can host two or three families at a time), Siwash Lake puts out one bag of garbage – every month.

Siwash Lake is one of the most eco-friendly destinations in Canada, (more…)

It took 3 days, lots of sweat, nerves of steel, and a lot of that Archimedes factor to get a small travel trailer from one side of the creek to the other. Should be easy… that’s what I thought! (more…)

The X PRIZE Foundation is set to award its prestigious first prize to an off-grid home design  in a much-hyped competition. The winner will receive a $25,000 check on Thursday, February 5th.

Finalists are:

– Alan Silva, from Roy, UT: “The Energy Independence X PRIZE”

A prize to develop energy-independent homes that exist completely off the grid. (more…)

Eating With a Purpose

I am a Flexitarian- that means I am a vegetarian who eats fish and meat …sometimes.

Yes, I know, you can call me a fish and chipocryte, but actually I am better and more rational than you think.  Because I recognize what many other vegetarians do not — namely that I am a veggie in a meaty world.

Growing up in the Midwest it was unusual not to be a big meat eater. (more…)

Sterligov and family – off-grid Gene Lange works at a hedge fund in New York and, wary of the erratic behaviour of his colleagues as the credit crunch develops, he is battening down the hatches. He’s stacked his basement with canned food, bottled water, and a decent supply of washable nappies for his baby. He’s fixing his car up so it’ll run off-road – and he’s taking good care of his collection of guns.

Gene’s not saying a rabble of crazy stockbrokers is going to come round to his house and try to bludgeon him to death with his own wind-up torch so they can get at his baked beans. He’s just saying, “I don’t think it necessarily makes a guy crazy to prepare for the potential worst-case scenario.” (more…)

It’s Not Easy Being Green (8pm, BBC2). But it’s a doddle compared to making decent TV. This is the worst ever attempt to tackle the green agenda on TV. Its so bad it might get an award for kitch.

The eco-doc series returned to BBC2 for a third run in an awkward new magazine format, after fashioning itself into a programme with no discernible purpose. (more…)

PR stunt is also a real job An Australian island is offering  the ‘best job in the world’ as caretaker – with a salary of nearly £1,000 per HOUR.

The position on Hamilton Island requires ‘minimum effort’ and involves ‘relaxed’ duties such as feeding turtles, watching whales, and picking up the island’s post. Applicants require no academic qualifications, but must possess good swimming skills and a love of snorkelling, scuba diving and other water sports. (more…)